Tooth Extractions in North Royalton OH

While getting a tooth pulled may not be most people’s idea of fun, it is sometimes necessary. Thankfully, getting a tooth pulled isn’t as painful as the procedure’s reputation might lead you to believe. And it’s much better than the alternative—that is, leaving an infected or impacted tooth in the mouth.

Why do I need a tooth extraction?

The most common reason that a tooth needs to be pulled is that the tooth is damaged, either from decay or trauma. Tooth decay occurs when bacteria eats away at the tooth. Trauma, in most cases, is unforeseen and unpreventable—it happens when a tooth is hit forcefully so that it’s knocked loose or broken in some way. If the tooth is too damaged to remain in the mouth, it will need to be removed.

If tooth decay progresses to an advanced stage, it can reach beyond the surface of the tooth and get to the pulp, or the soft tissue at the center of the tooth. The pulp contains nerves and blood vessels, which can cause severe pain when damaged. This can often be corrected with a root canal, but in some extreme cases, the tooth may need to be removed altogether.

Crowding is another common reason for tooth extraction. This is often the reason wisdom teeth need to be pulled. When wisdom teeth begin popping up in the late teens or early twenties, there is often no room for them in the mouth and they can push against and move other teeth if they are not removed.

Finally, sometimes gum disease causes the gum tissue and bone surrounding the teeth to loosen, making it unstable. During the course of treatment, it is sometimes necessary to pull the tooth.

What happens during an extraction?

Before we begin the extraction process, we will administer a local anesthetic by injection to numb the area of the tooth. You will be conscious during the extraction, but you will feel no pain during the procedure. If your tooth is impacted (or sitting entirely below the gum, as many wisdom teeth are, for example) or if you are having several teeth removed at once, we may give you a stronger general anesthetic, which will numb pain throughout the body and allow you to sleep through the extraction process.

When a regular tooth sitting above the gum needs to be pulled, Dr. Taylor will perform a simple extraction by first loosening the tooth with an instrument called an elevator. He then uses forceps to remove the tooth from the mouth.

The process is a little more complex for impacted teeth or teeth that have broken off at the gum line. In these cases, Dr. Taylor will make a small incision in the gum and possibly cut away some of the bone surrounding the tooth so that the tooth can be fully removed. After the tooth is pulled, a blood clot will typically form in the empty socket. Dr. Taylor may place some stitches to help the gum heal over the socket. He will dress the socket with gauze and have you bite down on the gauze to stop the bleeding.

How do I care for my teeth after the extraction?

Recovering from a tooth extraction usually takes just a few days, and there are many things you can do to minimize pain. You can take painkillers, and should keep gauze pads over bleeding areas, use an ice pack to reduce swelling, and eat only soft foods for at least one day after the extraction. Brush and floss your teeth very carefully after the procedure until the extraction site has healed. If your tooth was pulled because of decay, be sure to pay extra attention to oral hygiene habits to reduce the risk of decay in your other teeth.

For the best oral health outcomes, you will have to replace your tooth, the sooner the better. Dental implants are usually the healthiest option; you can read more about them here.

If you need a tooth extraction or have questions about the process, schedule an appointment today with the North Royalton dentist you can trust, Dr. Nathaniel M. Taylor. We are happy to answer your questions and to provide the care you need for full oral health.